Well pipe retrieving device

ABSTRACT

A device for retrieving plastic type well pipe out of a well shaft when such pipe becomes loose and falls into the well, the device including a washer shaped retrieving ring having an opening in its center with the ring adapted to be guided along a guide rod over the end of the pipe section to be pulled from the well, the ring being secured to a pulling rope or chain which, upon tensioning, will cause the ring to wedge or bind against the pipe section with the loop of rope disposed therebeneath and engaging the ring with the ring preventing the rope from slipping off the pipe section so that the rope may then pull and retrieve the pipe section from the well shaft.

[451 Sept. 2, 1975 WELL PIPE RETRIEVING DEVICE [76] lnventors: Ivan I-I. Burkepile; Jimmie J. Burkepile, both of Rt. 4, Box 337-DD, Ft. Smith, Ark. 72901 [22] Filed: July 3, 1974 21 Appl. N0.I 485,711

52 us. C1. 294/92; 294/86 R 51 lm. cl. B66C 1/12 [58] Field of Search 294/67 BA, 74, 78 R, 86 R, 294/86.1, 86.26, 86.33, 90, 91, 92; 24/249 R,

249 PP, 249 PP, 249 SA, 249 Pc, 249 DP 3/1952 Axelstrom 294/92 lO/l966 Wilcox 294/92 X Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner.lohnny D. Cherry [5 7 ABSTRACT A device for retrieving plastic type well pipe out of a well shaft when such pipe becomes loose and falls into the well, the device including a washer shaped retrieving ring having an opening in its center with the ring adapted to be guided along a guide rod over the end of the pipe section to be pulled from the well, the ring being secured to a pulling rope or chain which, upon tensioning, will cause the ring to wedge or bind against the pipe section withthe loop of rope disposed therebeneath and engaging the ring with the ring preventing the rope from slipping off the pipe section so that the rope may then pull and retrieve the pipe section from the well shaft.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures WELL PIPE RETRIEVING. DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to retrieving devices and more particularly to a novel device for retrieving lengths of plastic well pipe from a well shaft when such lengths have become loose and fallen into the well shaft.

2. Description of the prior art In recent years the utilization of plastic water piping has increased due to the improved structure of such pipe and its non-corrosive characteristics making it more suitable for use than the previously used galvanized pipe or the popular used copper piping. As plastic pipe is much cheaper than copper pipe, it thus enjoys a substantial economic advantage thereover. Further, adjacent pipe sections of plastic pipe and plastic pipe fittings are simply sealed together by use of suitable solvents, thus eliminating the need for the cutting of pipe threads, heat solderingjoints, and the other well known time consuming methods required to join galvanized pipe or copper pipe in water pipe installations.

In addition, due to the ease of use of such plastic piping, it has become quite popular for use in wells for the pumping of water therethrough, with the more popular water pumps being those of the submergible type which are submerged directly into the well shaft and with the long length of plastic piping leading from the'water level of the well upwardly to ground level to be directed in any desired manner therefrom.

A problem encountered when working with piping in wells is the retrieving of pipe sections should they become loose and fall into the well, this being a substantial problem due to the limited diameter of the well shaft and the depth thereof for which pipe retrieval is necessary. This is a further problem when considering that submergable water pumps are normally suspended in the well by the length of piping extending to the surface so that should such length of piping separate then the submergible pump would drop into the well requiring retrieval thereof.

It would thus be desirable to provide a device for the easy and rapid retrieval of a plastic pipe section from a well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the need for a device to retrieve a plastic pipe section from a well or similar shaft, and accomplishes the same by providing a novel retrieving ring adapted to be guided onto the top end portion of the pipe section to be retrieved, the ring binding thereon to form a shoulder portion against which the loop of a pulling rope may engage for retrieving the pipe sections from the well.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a device for retrieving plastic well pipes out ofa well should such pipes become loose and fall into the well.

A further feature of the present invention provides a well pipe retrieving device which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods, thus providing for the device to be retailed at a sufficiently low price to encourage its widespread use.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a well pipe retrieving device which is devoid of moving parts and which is possessed of few parts such that it is unlikely to get out of order.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a well pipe retrieving device which is of a rugged and durable construction and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to Withstand many years of intended usage.

Still yet a further feature of the present invention provides a device for the retrieving of plastic pipe sections from a well wherein the device is easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. a i

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate'like parts-throughout the same: v I I i FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a well shaft with a length of loose plastic piping illustrated as having fallen thereinto,

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG I but with the device of the present invention having been lowered into the well and engagedwithv the pipe s ection; 5

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the device of the present invention illustrated as withdrawing the pipe section'from the well; i

FIG. 4'is a fragmentary. perspective view of the retrieving device of the invention; I

- FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the device engaged with the pipe section; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the-retrievingring of the devicepositioned over the pipe section. I

Referring now to the drawings indetail there is illustrated a preferredform of a well pipe retrieving device constructed in accordance withthe principles of the invention and designated generally in itsentirety by the reference numeral 10 and which is comprisedof a length of rope or chain 1-1 and a retrieving ring 12.

The rope or chain 11 consists of a length 21 which I may be c'oiled' for purposes of storage and which may be of any desired length, the preferred lengthfor the invention being about twenty feet with it being understood that an additional length of rope or chain may be tied to the end thereof for purposes of lengthening the same depending upon the depth of the well shaft from which the fallen pipe section is to be retrieved. The terminal end of the length 21 is provided with a loop 22 of a size suitable to be passed about the outer diameter of the pipe section to be retrieved.

The retrieving ring 12 is of a flat washer like appearance having a flat top surface 31, a flat bottom surface 32, a peripheral edge 33 defining a ring diameter of about 4 inches, and a central opening 34 of a diameter adapted to fit concentrically over the end of the length of pipe section to be retrieved. For the retrieving of a 1 inch diameter plastic pipe, the center opening 34 would measure A inches in diameter. The ring 12 may be manufactured out of metal, wood, hard rubber, plastic, or any other suitable satisfactory material with the preferred embodiment being manufactured out of a metal material having a thickness of about one-eighth of an inch.

Disposed adjacent peripheral edge 33 is an aperture 41 having a ring 42 secured therein with one end of a flexible chain, nylon cord, rope, or the like 43 being permanently affixed thereto, the opposite end of the cord 43 being formed in a loop 44 affixed to the rope length 21 at a position above loop 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 in specific, there is illustrated a well shaft 51 extending vertically downwardly in the ground 52 to a depth at which water 53 is obtained. The reference numeral 54 designates a length of plastic pipe section which has become loose and fallen into the well, such as a length of pipe section which falls away from the overall pipe section as it is being pulled from the well shaft such that there is no joining of the pipe section to the ground level of the well.

As seen in FIG. 2, a guide rod 56 provides for the guiding of loop 22 and ring 12 over the end 55 of pipe section 54 such that ring opening 34 fits loosely about the exterior diameter of the pipe section in a position disposed between the top end of the pipe and the loop 22. As then seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, upon the vertical upward pulling of rope length 11 and ring 12 is pulled by cord 43 at an angle to the axis of pipe 54 to wedge or bind the sides of opening 34 against the peripheral outer diameter of the pipe, with the loop 22 then en gaging the retrieving ring which prevents the loop from slipping off of the pipe, with further pulling of the rope length 11 effecting the retrieval of the pipe section 54 from the well shaft 51.

As seen in FIG. 5, the retrieving ring 12 as initially placed over the pipe section 54 is shown in solid line configuration, and upon the pulling of the rope length 21 in a manner to tension cord 43 then the retrieving ring assumes the canted position illustrated by those reference numerals designated by a prime mark thereafter in FIG. and referring to the retrieving ring in phantom configuration. In this manner the retrieving ring forms a collar about the top end portion of the pipe section to be retrieved, with the rope loop 22 engaging the collar for the pulling of the pipe section out of the well shaft.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A device for the retrieving and withdrawing of plastic well pipe sections from a well shaft opening, the device comprising:

an elongated length of flexible pulling cord having a top end and a bottom end;

a loop affixed to the bottom end and having a size suitable for passing about the diameter of the pipe section to be retrieved;

a retrieving ring adapted to engage the top portion of the pipe section to be retrieved, the retrieving ring comprising a flat circular shaped, washer-type member having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, a peripheral outer circular edge, and a central aperture extending axially therethrough of a diam eter greater than the diameter of the pipe section to be retrieved, the ring having an outer diameter of about 4 inches, a thickness of about one-eighth inch, and a center opening of about /4 inch diameter; and

flexible control means retaining the retreiving ring to the pulling cord and controlling the operation of the retrieving ring between an inoperable position relative to the pipe section and an operable position engaging the pipe section, the retaining and control means for the retrieving ring including an aperture disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of the retrieving ring and extending therethrough; a closed ring engaged in the aperture and extending about the adjacentmost peripheral edge of the retrieving ring; a flexible length of cord having one end permanently affixed to the ring with the opposite end connected to the pulling cord at a position above the pulling cord loop; such that tensioning of the pulling cord will effect tensioning of the control cord to tilt the plane of the retrieving ring relative to the axis of the pipe section to be retrieved thus wedgingly engaging the pipe section in the retrieving ring center opening to bind thereagainst and define a shoulder portion to be engaged by the pulling cord loop for the pulling of the pipe section from the well shaft. 

1. A device for the retrieving and withdrawing of plastic well pipe sections from a well shaft opening, the device comprising: an elongated length of flexible pulling cord having a top end and a bottom end; a loop affixed to the bottom end and having a size suitable for passing about the diameter of the pipe section to be retrieved; a retrieving ring adapted to engage the top portion of the pipe section to be retrieved, the retrieving ring comprising a flat circular shaped, washer-type member having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, a peripheral outer circular edge, and a central aperture extending axially therethrough of a diameter greater than the diameter of the pipe section to be retrieved, the ring having an outer diameter of about 4 inches, a thickness of about one-eighth inch, and a center opening of about 1/4 inch diameter; and flexible control means retaining the retreiving ring to the pulling cord and controlling the operation of the retrieving ring between an inoperable position relative to the pipe section and an operable position engaging the pipe section, the retaining and control means for the retrieving ring including an aperture disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of the retrieving ring and extending therethrough; a closed ring engaged in the aperture and extending about the adjacentmost peripheral edge of the retrieVing ring; a flexible length of cord having one end permanently affixed to the ring with the opposite end connected to the pulling cord at a position above the pulling cord loop; such that tensioning of the pulling cord will effect tensioning of the control cord to tilt the plane of the retrieving ring relative to the axis of the pipe section to be retrieved thus wedgingly engaging the pipe section in the retrieving ring center opening to bind thereagainst and define a shoulder portion to be engaged by the pulling cord loop for the pulling of the pipe section from the well shaft. 